LISSA

This past summer I was a graduate collections intern in the library/archive of the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas. It was not my first internship but it was probably my best. I got a lot of hands-on work experience, I was able to observe the everyday functions of a real workplace in my field, and I received great feedback from some awesome professionals who have helped me further my understanding of what I want to do when I grow up and/or graduate.  I know that an internship can seem intimidating when all you have is a vague notion of what one involves, a few horror stories from folks who have done them, and a bunch of paperwork with deadlines. Figuring out where you want to put your blood, sweat, and tears for a good chunk of time (and probably without pay) can be stressful. But I promise that the hoop-jumping can be worth it, especially if you actually (at least kind of) know what you’re doing when you’re heading into it. Here’s a few things that I’ve learned about in...

Dr. Clayton Copeland (right) with her former elementary school librarian--and inspiration--Mrs. Ellen H. Ramsey 1. What made you become interested in the library and information science field in general? I have always loved reading and libraries. Many of my earliest and happiest memories are in the library. I was particularly inspired my by elementary school librarian, Mrs. Ellen Ramsey and then by my middle and high school librarian, Mrs. Vicky Culbertson. Both are SLIS alums, and I count it among my greatest privileges to have known and worked with them. From the time I was in elementary school until I graduated from high school, I worked in the school library as an assistant. I knew I wanted libraries and all that they stood for - learning, inquiry, knowledge, and opportunity - to be my life's work. The library was such a peaceful, tranquil place to me, a place where happy days were made happier and challenging days easier. No matter the burdens of my heart, somehow openin...

It’s time for March elections! Starting today, we will be accepting nominations for the positions of President and Secretary of LISSA. The President shall preside at all LISSA functions, head the Executive Council, and have the authority to appoint all committee chairpersons and to create new committees. The President shall also provide leadership and act as chief spokesperson for the organization. The Secretary shall handle and keep a record of all LISSA business and correspondence, including, but not restricted to: recording minutes at all LISSA meetings; keeping an up-to-date file on all members; informing members of all LISSA meetings and activities. Our Multimedia Chair, Robert Blank, will also be graduating this May, leaving an empty spot for the position. The multimedia chair is responsible for maintenance of the LISSA website as well as other duties concerning web development and e-mail accounts. This position is appointed by the President. If this is a role you would be inte...

The Professional Website Workshop will be hosted by Ashley Blewer, SLIS graduate and LISSA member. Here is information regarding it that she has provided. Paired up with LISSA, I am hosting a professional website creation workshop on Saturday, March 1 in Davis College. The goal is to give SLIS students/graduates a “leg up” on the competition in a very competitive field. Students can demonstrate their skills and display their work in a space where prospective employers can easily find them. This is a ¾-day workshop to assist SLIS students or graduates (particularly soon-to-be or recent graduates) on developing their web presence for the LIS job market. The morning will consist a guiding through the process of domain registration and buying a web hosting plan, then continuing with a presentation on web presence and a guide to website development and creation. We will break for lunch (on your own), and the afternoon will be spent making your own website (with me there to help)! We wil...

Wenlan and Wenzhi Wenlan: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Hi there! My name is Wenlan Cai (pronounced like “Tsai”). I am originally from Shenzhen, a big city in southern China that is very close to Hong Kong. I finished my undergraduate degree in China. But my major was not LIS or any other information science, it was finance! I grew up in a very happy and sweet family. I have a twin sister who looks very similar to me. But we have different styles. My sister is more girly and I am more sporty. So it is not hard to distinguish us. Oh! By the way, my sister is also in SLIS! What made you become interested in library science? To be honest, I got into this field accidentally. The University of South Carolina was not the first university I studied at in America. I studied Information Technology Management at the University of Texas at Dallas last year. That was my first time getting to know information science and I found it really interesting! So, you guys may a...

You probably haven’t even bothered to notice, but mildly attractive men are just about everywhere. It’s true. They’re shambling down the cereal aisle at the corner grocer. They’re fumbling around in their pockets for grubby quarters at the local Laundromat. Your sister knows a mildly attractive man and she likes him a lot, she really does, but it’s more like as a brother. Besides, she’s not at a point in her life where she’s looking for that sort of thing with, well, anyone really. Right now in America, a mildly attractive man is in his kitchen eating bread over the sink. One side is scarcely toasted – the other, which was charred to a crisp, is slathered in expired jam. Nobody should have to live like this. Someone needs to do something. Someone has. Again. The heroic males of the School of Library and Information Science have stood against the injustices foisted upon ineligible bachelors for seven consecutive years through the production of their Mildly Attractive Men of SL...

Hi everyone, LISSA is right in the middle of our September tours. Last Friday, our members were able to tour the Thomas Cooper and Ernest Hollings Libraries. The Thomas Cooper is undoubtedly familiar to all of our students, but we did get a quick look behind the scenes. Our newer members were also given a rundown of some of the special features and privileges that they may not have been aware of. The tour of Ernest Hollings took us behind the scenes of the South Carolina Political Collection, Digital Collection and Rare Books. Members were treated to memorabilia from South Carolina’s political movers and shakers and rare books and materials ranging from John J. Audubon paintings to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s personal ledger. Monday’s tours were equally exciting – at the South Caroliniana our members were treated to information that covered the scope of the library’s collection, its policies and its history. Some of the storied history of USC’s campus, particularly the Horseshoe, wa...